NZ Service beaten again by South Africa

In a replay of their game a fortnight before NZ Services lost again to South African Services, though this time by a slightly greater margin, 8 – 16 as against 8 – 11 two weeks previously. It was the fifth consecutive loss for New Zealand but their luck was to change, they won the next three.

Ray Dalton - NZ Services, future All Black.

Much about this February 25 game was the same as for the previous encounter:

The venue, Richmond Athletic Ground.

Proceeds were still in aid of New Zealand Services Institute Sports Fund.

The programme price remained at 3d.

The Air Raid Shelters were still located just outside the ground, behind the grandstand.

The team captains were the same, W/Cmdr. P Hopkins (RAF) for South Africa, F/O J H MacDonald (from the Marlborough family that has produced a number of NZ Maori representatives and an All Black in Leon MacDonald) for New Zealand.

There were changes to both playing XVs but not many, so the unchanged result was not unexpected.